This picture, like its companion Watteau Study by Fresnoy's Rules', is a tribute to another artist, in this case Van Dyck, the figures all being based on pictures by, or attributed to, that artist at Petworth. There is moreover a family connection between the subject of the picture and Petworth, which belonged to the Percy family from 1150 until the end of the seventeenth century. Henry Percy, 9th Earl of Northumberland (1564-1632), known as the 'Wizard Earl' on account of his scientific and alchemical experiments, was suspected of complicity in Guy Fawkes' Gunpowder Plot in 1605 and was imprisoned in the Tower of London for sixteen years. On his release in 1621 he retired to Petworth. He is shown with his two daughters, and among the pictures on the right-hand wall are a view appropriately labelled 'Tower of London' and another of the Angel releasing St. Peter from prison.

This picture and its companion were painted on the panels of two matching doors, which one would like to think came from a cupboard at Petworth, used when Turner had run out of more orthodox supports. The framing members round each panel were retained as the inner frames which bear the old Turner Bequest labels.

Both pictures have unfortunately darkened irretrievably so it is particularly interesting that the Library of the Fine Arts for June 1831 singled out 'the flood of light pouring like water over the ledges of a cataract into Lord Percy's chamber, dispelling its sombre hue', an effect to be carried much further in Interior at Petworth' (No.339). La Belle Assemblée for the same month recognised that the artist has ingeniously adopted some of Vandyke's costumes. This production also, as well as the Watteau study by Fresnoy's rules ..., will attract notice as an extraordinary combination of colour. The Morning Chronicle, 16 May, was less complimentary to Turner, whom it called The Yellow Admiral': 'It seems that the design has no reference to history, but is amongst Mr. T's jeux d'esprit and represents the present Percy, Duke of Northumberland, huddled up in an arm chair with the stomach-ache, on Dolly and the other daughters of corruption announcing to him the success of Reform' (the Reform Bill was finally passed the following year).